Straightedge for laying shingles



Dec. 30, 1924. 1,521,459

l l G. c. Mccov STRAIGHTEDGE FOR LAYING 'SINGLES Fild Aug. 30, 1924 ooooaoooo CJYC gwn Patented Bec. 30, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATE GRO'VER C. MCGOY, 0F PONTIAC, LLINOIS.

STRAIGHTEDGE FOR LAYING SH'EGLES.

Application filed August 30, 1924. Serial No. 735,l54.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, Gnovnn C. McCoY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pontiac, in the county of Livingston and State of illinois, have invented a new and useful Straightedge for Laying Shingles, of which the following is a specication.

rlhis invention relates to gauges and more particularly to a gauge especially designed for use in positioning shingles or the like, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of this character which will insure a true and even positioning of the shingles with respect to each other.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will not only insure a true positioning of the shingles, but will at the same time facilitate the positioning of shingles in the construction of a roof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for positioning the gauge to facilitate its use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view disclosing the use of the device.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the gauge.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device embodies an elongated positioning member formed from a length of sheet metal bent upon itself to provide a base portion 5 and an upper portion 6, the upper portion being provided with an offset portion 7 providing a shoulder which extends throughout the length of the gauge and acts as a rest against which the lower edges of shingles being positioned may be laid.

Secured adjacent to the ends of the positioning member, are transversely extended members 8 which are also constructed of lengths of sheet metal of sufficient thickness 'to insure against the members bending when the gauge is being removed from its active position on the roof.

' As shown by Figure 3 of the drawings, the ends of the members 8 extend beyond the edges of the positioning member of the device, the lower ends of the members S which are indicated at 9 being designed to be positioned flush with the lower ends of the row of shingles which has been previously positioned, thereby providing a gauge to insure the positioning member being positioned the proper distance from the lower edges of the row of shingles last positioned.

ln order that the device may be secured in position, openings l0 are provided in the members 8, which openings accommodate nails that may be driven into the sheathing on which the device is positioned. Securing members' ll extend through the positioning member and into the members 8 so that the members S may be securely positioned with respect to the body portion.

Arranged in the positioning member and disposed along` the upper edge thereof are a plurality of openings 12 which are formed predetermined distances apart, the openings acting' as gauges in the positioning of shingles. As shown by Figure l of the drawing, the gauge is positioned for the application of a row of shingles, one shingle being positioned so that its edges adjacent to the bottom thereof lie between openings of the gauge so that as the shingles are placed along the gauge, the shingles are arranged uniformly and with regularity.

`When a row of shingles has been positioned, the lower edge of the gauge is lifted by theoperator the shingles bending, allowing the gauge to be moved to a position to cause the securing nails that pass through the members 8, to be withdrawn.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that due to this construction, both the hori- Zontal and diagonal lines incident to the laying of a shingle roof will be true and symmetrical.

l claim:

l. A gauge for laying shingles, including an elongated positioning member formed from a length of sheet metal bent intermediate its side edges to provide a base portion and an upper' portion, the upper portion having an offset portion defining a shoulder. and said positioning member having gauge openings arranged therein and disposed predetermined distances apart.

2. A gauge for laying shingles, including an elongated positioning member formed fro-In a length lof sheet metal bent upon iteach other and disposed throughout the l0' self and provided with an offset portion length of the gauge.

deining a shoulder against which shingles ln testimony that I claim the foregoing Y may be positioned, securing members -posias my own, l have hereto aifixed my signationed on the positioning member and havture 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

ing their ends extending beyond the edges GROVER C. MCCOY. of the positioning member, and said posi- Witnesses: l Y

tioning member having a plurality of gauge RALYH H. BAUGHMAN,

openings arranged in spaced relation with THOMAS FIGHT. 

